Holiday rentals in Umbria, Italy

local market

The medieval town of Todi is situated on top of a hill overlooking the surrounding green hills. Except for the 16th Century Church of Santa Maria della Consolazione, the musea, the cosy squares and the old houses are almost all inside the antique city walls.

Quite a few activities and events are organised in Todi, like the yearly market on November 11th, Saint Martin’s day. From the Piazzale della Consolazione up to the Piazza del Popolo there are more than 200 market stalls with porchetta sandwiches, dried ham, sheep cheeses, kitchen utensils, shoes, clothes, garlic, unions and much more. The atmosphere is very relaxed and cosy.

The terraces are full with locals enjoying the autumn sun accompanied by a glass of red wine or a Spritz. Families come together and stroll along the market stalls and shops.

This market is only once a year on the 11th of November, the day of San Martino. I have asked people what San Martino means and why it is celebrated on that day, thinking it was linked to the start of the Carnival season. San Martino is one of the patron saints of the town of Todi.

Saint Martin lived in the 4th century and after having been a soldier for many years he turned to Christianity and founded an abbey in France where he became the bishop of Tours. He was buried on November the 11th in the year 397.

All over Italy on this day there are local activities celebrating the last days of relative warmth before the start of winter, it is the end of the harvest season, the new wine is celebrated, as well as the new olive oil.

November may not be your first choice to travel to Italy but autumn does have its unique charms. It is the period of the new olive oil, wine, chestnuts, dried fruit and clementines. On every corner of the street one finds somebody selling warm chestnuts often with the new ‘novello’ wine. With the warm autumn sun that gives the landscape unique colours it is great to enjoy all these local delicacies.

One of the best places to find fresh fruit in Italy is the local market. There are many street markets in Umbria. Vendors set up shop to sell super fresh fruit, vegetables, cheese, fish and cold cuts. Every week in every town or village there’s a local market. The products one finds at the market are various. Not only food, but also clothing and footwear.

Most open air markets start around 7:30 am and finish at 1:00 pm. It is recommended to go early to the market, especially in high season when market places are crowded with tourists.

At the lively market residents purchase fresh food of the region. Eating seasonally and locally is a way of life in Italy.

In Umbria at every corner of the market one can buy pecorino cheese, salami or dried ham. Pecorino is sheep cheese which can be eaten fresh or aged (stagionato). Pecorino cheese is popular in Umbria, Lazio and Tuscany.

On the market square one often finds a bar or a pizza takeway for a coffee and a quick chat with friends and neighbours. This is so tipically Italian!

Porchetta is roasted pork meat and an Italian street food best found in Umbria, South Tuscany and Lazio. The porchetta trucks are mostly parked in the piazza’s during the weekly markets. The owners of the truck prepare and sell porchetta sandwiches to customers.

For an overview of markets in Umbria you can check out our website. Many markets in Umbria are really awesome. Do you have a favorite market place in Umbria? Let us know!

Like this:

Each year at the end of October Città di Castello celebrates the white truffle with a market dedicated to this precious delicacy. From October 28 to November 1, 2016 was the 37th edition of this truffle market, Il Tartufo Bianco. One sells not only white truffle from Umbria but also delicacies from other regions in Italy like herbs, Sicilian cannoli, olives from Puglia and much more, often accompanied by local wines.

Città di Castello is a lovely town, situated 50 km north from Perugia. In the historical center one find tiny streets and a pleasant square with bars and cafés.

North Umbria is known for its white and black truffle. I find truffle one of the best ingredients in my food, hence I often use truffle for pasta sauce, in risotto or for meat dishes. Truffle sauces are not made with only truffles, but are mixed with different flavors.

Black truffles, and especially white truffles, aren’t cheap. Bruno from Giuliani Tartufi explains us in this video that they sell the best truffles for an attractive price. Feel free to visit their website for more information!